Definition of Furring Strip

Furring Strip

Flat piece of lumber used to build up an irregular framing to an even surface, either the leveling of a part of a wall or ceiling.

Group Life Insurance

This is a very common form of life insurance which is found in employee benefit plans and bank mortgage insurance. In employee benefit plans the form of this insurance is usually one year renewable term insurance. The cost of this coverage is based on the average age of everyone in the group. Therefore a group of young people would have inexpensive rates and an older group would have more expensive rates.
Some people rely on this kind of insurance as their primary coverage forgetting that group life insurance is a condition of employment with their employer. The coverage is not portable and cannot be taken with you if you change jobs. If you have a change in health, you may not qualify for new coverage at your new place of employment.
Bank mortgage insurance is also usually group insurance and you can tell this by virtue of the fact that you only receive a certificate of insurance, and not a complete policy. The only form in which bank mortgage insurance is sold is reducing term insurance, matching the declining mortgage balance. The only beneficiary that can be chosen for this kind of insurance is the bank. In both cases, employee benefit plan group insurance and bank mortgage insurance, the coverage is not guaranteed. This means that coverage can be cancelled by the insurance company underwriting that particular plan, if they are experiencing excessive claims.

Non-participating Policy

A type of insurance policy or annuity in which the owner does not receive dividends.

Paid-Up Additions

A type of insurance policy or annuity in which the owner receives dividends, typically increases the death.

Participating Policy

A policy offers the potential of sharing in the success of an insurance company through the receipt of dividends.

Tray ceiling

A Flat ceiling with a raised center portion.

Vaulted ceiling

An arched ceiling.

Area Walls

Corrugated metal or concrete barrier walls installed around a basement window to hold back the earth.

Balloon Framed Wall

Framed walls (generally over 10' tall) that run the entire vertical length from the floor sill plate to the roof. This is done to eliminate the need for a gable end truss.

Braced Framing

A construction method in two-story homes in which the frame is reinforced with posts and braces.

Builder's Risk Insurance

Insurance coverage on a construction project during construction, including extended coverage that may be added for the contract for the customer's protections.

Building Code

A comprehensive set of laws that controls the construction or remodeling of a home or other structure.

Built-Up Roof

A roofing composed of three to five layers of asphalt felt laminated with coal tar, pitch, or asphalt. The top is finished with crushed slag or gravel. Generally used on Flat or low-pitched roofs.

Bull Nose Drywall

Rounded drywall corners.

Coffered Ceiling

A ceiling with recessed square panels, bordered with trim for ornamental purposes.

Flat Ceiling

A ceiling with no change in elevation.

Gable End Wall

The triangular end of an exterior wall above the eaves formed under a gable roof.

GFI -See Ground Fault Current Interrupter

Ground Fault Current Interrupter

An electrical device used to prevent injury from contact with faulty electrical appliances and faulty wiring
electrical shocks. GFIs should not be confused with AFIs, the later are designed to prevent electrical fires. GFIs are required in new home bathrooms, kitchen, garage, out of doors and in other locations where one might be in contact with a grounded surface or body of water and an electrical appliance. Most GFI's are located in the receptacle itself or a curcuit breaker and can be identified by the presence of a 'test' and a 'reset' button.

Insulated Ceiling (I.C.)

Marking on recessed lighting fixture indicating that it is designed for direct insulation contact.

aterial used to cover the interior framed areas of walls and ceilings

Knee Wall

A wall-like structure that supports roof rafters.

Load-Bearing Wall

Includes all exterior walls and any interior wall that is aligned above a support beam or girder. Normally, any wall that has a double horizontal top plate.

Metal Insulation Support

16" or 24" wire rod or crisscrossed wire to hold floor insulation in place.

Nonbearing Wall

A wall supporting no load other than its own weight.

Particle Board

Plywood substitute made of course sawdust that is mixed with resin and pressed into sheets. used for closet shelving, floor underlayment, stair treads, etc.

Partition

A wall that subdivides spaces within any story of a building or room.

Tray Ceiling

A decorative ceiling treatment used to add volume and/or height to a room. 2 Common types are: 1) Angled area toward the center leading to a Flat ceiling surface, and 2) Stepped square edged leading toward the center of the ceiling.

Trombe Wall

A passive solar wall, usually masonry or concrete, used for passing heat from one room (like a sun room or solar garden room) to another.

Vaulted Ceiling

A ceiling that angles upward on one or both sides to create volume in the room.

Wall Out

When a painter spray paints the interior of a home.

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